Sandbags offered for Tampa Bay residents in several locations

As Isaac was making its way westward, officials all over the Tampa Bay area were starting to make preparations for residents who needed to deal with the storm. Here's a roundup of some of those offerings:

Sandbags have been made available to city residents at three locations. Residents interested in picking up sandbags should bring identification that proves they live within the city's limits to either the Himes Sports Complex, 4500 S Himes Ave., Jackson Heights Playground, 3310 E Lake Ave., or the solid waste facility at 4010 W Spruce St. Identification can include utility bills as well as driver's licenses. The sandbags will be given out Sunday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

St. Petersburg

Sandbags are available to city residents at both the Frank W. Pierce Recreation Center, 2000 7th Street S, and Mangrove Bay Golf Course, 875 62nd Ave NE, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Pinellas County

The county no longer offers sandbags. County officials have decided that they're not effective.

Hillsborough County

The county is making sandbags available to the public from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. at all three County Public Works Service Units:

• West Service Unit - 9805 Sheldon Road

• South Service Unit – 8718 Old Big Bend Road

• East Service Unit – 4702 Sydney Road

Filled sandbags will be available to the elderly/disabled. Sandbag materials will be available to those physically able to make their own. Additionally, each citizen must sign their name and provide their home address acknowledging the receipt of 25 sandbags or less.

Belleair Beach

Bayside Park behind City Hall

Clearwater

Public Utilities, 1650 N Arcturas Ave.

Dunedin

The city is making sandbags available to residents at the southwest corner (parking lot) of the Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd. Residents can fill their own bags with shovels and bags provided on site. Delivery is available for those who need assistance. The site will remain open from dawn to dusk and will be replenished. Proof of residency is required. For assistance or more information, call (727) 298-3232 or (727) 298-3233.

Gulfport

City Hall, 2401 53rd St. S

Madeira Beach

Sandbags are available at Archibald Park, 15100 Gulf Blvd.; and the South Beach parking lot

Oldsmar

One sandbag site is open for residents this weekend. It's in a parking area on the east side of City Hall, 100 State St. W. The site remains open through Sunday, but the city won't be staffing it that day.

Pinellas Park

Adamek Building, 7700 60th St. N

St. Pete Beach

The city has sandbags available at Egan Park, 9101 Blind Pass Rd.; and Lido Park, 4503 Gulf Blvd. You'll need to bring your own shovel.

Tarpon Springs

City parking lot (east of Pinellas Ave.)

Pasco County

Officials are staffing a resident information center through the weekend for people with questions about how to prepare. They are also offering sandbags at six locations. Sand and sandbags are at the following locations, which will be open daily until 8 p.m. The limit is 20 bags per household. Bring your own shovel.

• West Pasco Government Center, 7536 State St., New Port Richey

• Fire Station No. 10, 7918 Rhodes Road, Hudson

• Fire Station No. 17, 2952 Seven Springs Road, New Port Richey

• Land O'Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O'Lakes

• C-Barn county fleet building, 30906 Warder Road, San Antonio

• Jack Mitchell Park, 4025 Little Road, New Port Richey

Hernando County

To help residents prepare for possible flooding, sandbags are available at four locations:

There is a reason why the air in Tampa Bay is filled with playoff talk. If Thursday night's 12-8 Bucs preseason win over the Jaguars is any indication, it's also going to be filled with footballs thrown by quarterback Jameis Winston.